Igor Kokoskov won only 19 games but people are heated the Suns fired him

By Kevin Zimmerman | April 22, 2019 at 11:05 pmUPDATED: April 23, 2019 at 3:28 pm

Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Igor Kokoskov won just 19 games in his first season as head coach.

The head coach’s biggest mistakes included a baffling miscommunication that cost the Phoenix Suns a game against the Boston Celtics because players heard “no foul” when he called for an intentional foul.

He also once, walked on the court against the Pelicans … in the middle of a play. Like the Boston debacle, it also cost the Suns a regulation victory.

Still, it says a lot that basketball folks in Phoenix and elsewhere were baffled by the Suns firing Kokoskov on Monday.

The Suns continue to be impatient at the oddest of times. Regardless of what Kokoskov proved or didn’t, could he really do much with a team of sub-25-year-olds? Could he be expected to win without, you know, a point guard?

Former Suns forward Matt Barnes doesn’t think so. Few disagreed.

Coaching isn’t the problem w the @Suns the owner is! Sarver is the worst owner in the NBA.. Do that great city of phnx a solid & sell the team, they deserve a winner! You’re wasting Devin Bookers career

You couldn’t have worked the lines to get this done ahead of time if this is who you wanted? College coaches and agents figure out the backchannels every year, and the Suns are out here playing checkers. https://t.co/YhbxJNIaxX